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Salmon Portland Chase 

Undergraduate 

and 

Pedagogue 



By ARTHUR MEIER SCHLESINGER 
Ohio State University 



Columbus, Ohio: 

The F. J. Heer Printing Co. 

1919 



^printed from Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly 
Vol. XXVIII, No. 2 



•>. •t *. 

;UL 5 1919 



SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 

UNDERGRADUATE AND PEDAGOGUE. 
BY ARTHUR MEIER SCHLESINGER, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. 

Salmon Portland Chase was a significant member of that 
group of political radicals who plunged the nation into civil 
convulsions by their accession to governmental power in the 
late '5o's. Much has been written of Chase, the anti-slavery 
lawyer, the organizer of the Liberty party, the war financier, 
the chief justice; but of Chase, the youth, the college student, 
the school teacher, little has been said. Yet these plastic years 
were the most critical ones of his life; they were the years 
in which he developed the mental habits and human contacts 
which were profoundly to influence his later career. 

The letters of Chase to his college friend Thomas Spar- 
hawk, which have recently been acquired by the Ohio State 
Archaeological and Historical Society, are chiefly valuable for 
the insight one may acquire of Chase in this formative period. 
The first group of seven letters were written while Chase was 
an undergraduate at Dartmouth College. Marked by college- 
boy pleasantries the correspondence is wholesome and hearty 
and innocent of subtlety; it also affords glimpses of the deeply 
religious strain which influenced Chase's maturer years. From 
a different point of view these letters are instructive for the side- 
lights they throw upon student life in the '20's in an American 
college and upon the difficulties which lay in ambush for the 
district school teacher. In the second series of letters Chase 
had removed to Washington, there to earn a livelihood while 
preparing himself for his life work. The last letter of this group 
was written from Cincinnati where Chase was beginning to take 
the first venturesome steps in a career which was to shed much 
honor on himself and his adopted state. Of these later letters 
more will be said presently. The two groups of letters now 
appear in print for the first time. 

(119) 



120 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

I. 

Salmon P. Chase was born on January 13, 1808, in Cornish, 
New Hampshire. When Salmon was a lad of seven the Chase 
family removed to Keene and there his father died a year or 
so later leaving to his mother a slender property and ten chil- 
dren. The boy's schooling began about this time : he received 
fragmentary instruction in a young ladies' school, in two district 
schools at Keene, and in a private school at Windsor, Vt., and 
later he studied Greek under a tutor at Keene. In after years 
he remarked of his schooling at Windsor: "I was counted quite 
a prodigy; but I see now that thorough instruction and acquisi- 
tion of one quarter would have been much better than superficial 
coursing through the whole." 1 

Early in 1820 Chase felt the first tug of that attraction 
which was finally to draw him permanently to Ohio. His uncle, 
Bishop Philander Chase, of Worthington, offered to take the 
lad under his tutelage, an invitation which his mother gladly 
embraced. By flatboat, carriage and steamboat he journeyed to 
Cleveland; and then by horseback, employing the familiar 
frontier practice of "ride and tie," he arrived at his destination 
in Worthington sometime in June, 1820. Chase's sojourn in 
Worthington left him with few pleasant memories. The bishop 
was an extremely good man, head of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in Ohio, but a stern moral guardian and exacting task- 
master. The lad received some desultory instruction in a brick 
school-house on the west side of the town square, and read 
theological works under the bishop's direction — hardy diet for a 
boy of twelve ! "Out of school," he related in after years, "I did 
chores ; took grain to the mill and brought back meal or flour ; 
milked the cows ; drove them to and from pasture ; took wool to 
the carding factory over on the Scioto, an important journey 
to me ; built fires and brought in wood in the winter time ; 
helped gather sugar water and make sugar when winter first 



1 Extract from a letter written to J. T. Trowbridge to assist him in 
preparing the biographical sketch entitled The Ferry Boy and the Finan- 
cier. Quoted in Robert B. Warden's An Account of the Private Life and 
Public Services of Salmon Portland Chase (Cincinnati 1874), 60. 



Salmon P. Chase. 121 

turned to spring; helped plant and sow in the later spring. In 
most of whatever a boy could do on a farm I did a little." 2 

In 1822 Bishop Chase, whose income from the church was 
extremely meager, was offered the presidency of Cincinnati 
College. Thence he removed with his family and nephew in 
November of that year. Cincinnati College was an institution 
in which "the requirements of scholarship was [sic] by no 
means exacting," as Chase himself testified in later years. 3 
Entering the college as a Freshman he soon was able to advance 
himself to Sophomore standing by a little extra study. 

His description of Cincinnati during the period of his first 
residence in that city is of interest in view of the account that 
he gives of the city in a letter to Sparhawk on his return there 
as a fledgling lawyer in 1830: "Cincinnati was then a com- 
paratively small town. From Fifth Street north, there were few 
buildings. The Court-house had been removed from its original 
location in the square on which the college stood to the center 
of a lot of ground on Main Street — the same lot on which the 
existing Court-house stands. Mr. Este, a prominent lawyer, had 
built a residence not far from the Court-house. I remember 
no other building of consequence north of Fifth Street A 
trade had sprung up on the river; but there was little, com- 
paratively, in the interior. The river was a wonder to me; 
especially when swollen by the spring flood; and a still greater 
wonder were the steamboats — inconsiderable crafts, doubtless, 
but to me monsters." 4 

Bishop Chase did not long remain content with his new 

honors and within less than a year resigned his position and 

determined to go to England to seek aid for the establishment of 

a theological seminary. Salmon accompanied the Chase family 

} on their journey eastward and in the autumn of 1823 arrived 

] at the home in Keene from which he had departed some three 

3 years earlier. His college education being as yet incomplete, it was 

decided in family council that he should renew his studies at 

l j Dartmouth College with such partial support as he might effect 



2 Letter to Trowbridge ; ibid., 83. 

3 Letter to Trowbridge ; ibid., 93. 
* Letter to Trowbridge ; ibid., 96. 



122 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

through school-teaching and such assistance as his mother might 
spare from her scanty means. 

A few months after his return he secured a position as 
master of a school in a district of the adjoining town of Rox- 
bury; but his employment ended abruptly within less than a 
fortnight when one of the bullies of the school, actually older 
than the boy-teacher, complained to the school committee that 
he had been suppressed too vigorously by the master! Early 
in the spring Chase attended the academy at Royalton, Vt., in 
order to prepare for the admission examination at Dartmouth 
during the approaching commencement, for it was his intention 
to enter as a Junior. This process proved to be a pleasant 
enough experience inasmuch as Chase did not regard it very 
seriously and diluted his studies with liberal doses of social 
intermingling. 

When the critical day for the examination arrived, he 
went to Hanover and, as he related many years later, "I * * * 
found the professors much engaged. I was sent from one to 
another, questioned a little — luckily for me with no great severity 
— and was admitted. One of the questions by the learned pro- 
fessor of mathematics amused me. He undertook to fathom 
my geographical attainments, and asked : 'Where do the Hotten- 
tots live ?' I was tempted to answer, 'In Hanover,' but prudence 
restrained me." 5 Now came several weeks of vacation follow- 
ing the Dartmouth commencement ; and then Chase returned to 
Hanover a Junior in fact. 

"While rooming in the college," Chase declared in reminis- 
cence, "I boarded, for the greater part of the time, in club — 
that is to say, a number of the students organized themselves 
into an association; rented a room; provided food and attend- 
ance through a committee, and assessed the expense on the 
association. If any one desired board without being a member of 
the association, he could have it on paying an established weekly 
rate ; and there were a number who did so. I was one." 6 

During the winter which followed his first term in Dart- 
mouth he again engaged to teach a district school, this time at 



6 Letter to Trowbridge; ibid., 112. 
'Letter to Trowbridge; ibid., 112. 



Salmon P. Chase. 123 

Reading, and he was able to return to college with the earnings 
of seven or eight weeks' teaching. Of this venture in "school- 
keeping" he gives a highly colored account in one of his letters 
to Sparhawk. The letters that are printed below furnish an 
excellent running account of the remainder of Chase's course in 
Dartmouth. 

Hanover, Novr. 29. 1825. 
Dear Tom, 

Why have you not written to me before now? I have been ex- 
pecting a letter some time and have at last concluded that the reason you 
have not written is that you did not know where to direct. The Govern- 
ment were exceedingly wroth at your manner of departure. I understand 
that the President 7 told Elliott that as "you had gone off without liberty 
you might get back as you could." Which being interpreted signifies 
that you will have, to pay two dollars fine & write a confession perhaps 
[j into the bargain on your return. I hope however that the latter will not 
be required for I know that if you do not think you have done wrong 
- you will never write a confession. Folsom 8 has got the school at Haver- 
hill. Swasy recieved a letter stating that Holmes might have it, but 
1 Holmes was already elsewhere engaged. Swasey then engaged the school 
1 for Folsom altho' he knew that I expected and was waiting for it. I 
A recieved a letter from Swasey stating that he was sorry I could not 
j have the school for it was engaged to Folsom, when he knew that he 
' had engaged it for him at the same time that I was expecting it. I don't 
think that Swasey has acted very honourably in this matter. I care not 
much about the school as I shall spend my vacation more pleasantly 
without it than with, but it is the disposition which S has man- 
ifested. I do not now expect to keep school this winter ; so you may for 
the present at least direct your letters to old Dartmouth. 

I recieved a letter from Punchard yesterday — he wrote in fine 
spirits and appears to enjoy himself very much at home. I will extract 
one sentence for your perusal. "Tom Sparhawk is the last person I 
should have thought of taking a school — If he don't cry heu miserabile! 
I shall lose my guess." What think you Tom? Shall you persevere 
unto the end in school-keeping? Or shall you become tired of the 
business and take French leave of your school before it is half through? 
I am glad your father likes my profile but am greatly afraid if he 
should ever happen to see me he would say that there is very little 
resemblance between it & the original. Creeping Moses left the plain 
soon after you went away. He was in my room for about 6 hours every 
day from the time he took those likenesses till he went. Folks say that 



7 The Rev. Bennett Tyler was president of Dartmouth College from 
1822 to 1828. 

8 Nathaniel Folsom was in later years to occupy a chair in Mead- 
ville Theological Seminary, Pa. 



124 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

the one which was drawn for you resembles you very much. I will now 
mention a circumstance which Dan requested me to write to you about 
lest I should forget it. Ward says that Kent never bought any wood 
of him for you — that he had promised Gen. Poole some wood and drew 
that half-cord for him. I heard Ward say this so that if Dan did not 
tell Ward what to say, you must have been in the wrong respecting 
Dan's conduct in this matter. He says he was very much hurt by your 
suspicions and wished me to tell you how matters really were. I have 
told you what Ward said and you must draw your own conclusion. 
Paine had a letter last Saturday from Concord stating that the school 
there was engaged to Robinson, that graduated last commencement. 
Torry goes next Friday and the rest of us will probably stay on the 
rest of the term. Monsieur's school has closed, but he has engaged to 
take another in the Spring. All his scholars are much pleased with 
him I believe. For my part I have not obtained much good from it, but 
it was my own fault I suppose. 

Your classmate Stone has commenced his school in Keene has 
about forty noisy, dirty, ragged young idiot[s] to teach. There was a 
grand party at Mrs. Woodward's a few evenings since — the gentlemen 
were the Rev. Mr. Stone, Tutors Aiken & Carlton, Junior Alvord, 
Sophomores Stone and Woodward & George Wood. Ladies I do not 
know who or what they are. 

Almost all our class have cleared out, and the rest are soon going, 
except Kendrich, Kimball, Cilley & Myself. We are studying Butler* 
yet, but shall soon commence Paleys Evidences. 

As to that important & dignified personage i ; 

he is very well tho' somewhat lasy — studies a little — reads a little 
more and scribbles more still, and wishes very much, as he says, to hear 
from his chum Tom. 

Tom Paine domiciliates with me at present. He has lived with me 
since he was taken sick with a violent cold arising from the influence of 
Conic Sections. We had an excellent thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, 
plumpudding, pies mince, squash & pumpkin, apples and wine, &c &c &c 
&c. If you should happen to meet with any body who knows me, present 
my respects to them. I am excessively tired, having written one long let- 
ter before to-day. Write soon — Good-bye. 

Yours Affectionately 

Dart Coll., Dec. 14. 1825. 
Dear Tom, 

I recieved your very entertaining letter of the 21st inst with much 
pleasure. You say I may be thankful for my disappointment respecting 



"Joseph Butler's well known work. The Analogy of Religion, Nat- 
ural and Revealed, to the Course and Constitution of Nature, published 
originally in 1736. 






Salmon P. Chase. 125 

the school. I am not by any means sorry that I did not obtain it, tho I 
do not by any means like the way in which I lost it. I regret that you 
are not better pleased with your school than your letter intimates. I 
never thought it would agree with you very well — you are not as patient 
as Job I can tell you, without fear of contradiction. I remember that in 
the school where I kept last winter 10 the noise would sometimes almost 
drive me distracted. In respect to the Govt., their bark is always 
worse than their bite, tho they can bite keenly enough too upon occasion. 
i Witness George's case — bow wow. u You will be called upon for the 
(fine of course. You knew so much when you left Hanover. I hope that 
they will exact nothing further. — Old Tom has recovered from the cold 
which so severely afflicted him. N. B. The Junior class have finished 
Conic Sections. Tom, Cilley and Ego are all that are left in our family. 

Cleveland left this morning. 12 I have begun to like C quite well — 

many of the stories by which I was prejudiced against him I have found 
to be false and the others highly exaggerated. I have learnt a lesson 
from this which I hope I shall not soon forget, that is not to judge 
decidedly upon slight grounds. 

Creeping Moses has pulled up stakes and cleared to my great satis- 
faction and relief. I was always willing to endure a reasonable share 
of his company, but to be favoured with it all the time was a favour of 
which I felt myself extremely unworthy, and unwilling that my per- 
turbation should be visible I blew out the light, covered up the fire and 
hid my blushing face under the blankets. I was not under the necessity 
of resorting to the last summary expedient which you mentioned in order 
to convince him of my modesty. 

Your profile is not such a very bad looking object after all. Old 
Bison says it looks exactly like you when you are about to say some- 
thing witty. So think of something darrid cute and look in the glass 
aid if you don't see something there that will make you laugh I shall 
be Content to be set down for a false prophet. 

"I wonder if I should have been honoured with an invitation from 
the Miss woodward's" — I am sure I can't tell & am equally sure 



10 At Reading. 

n This reference is to a difficulty which Chase's friend George 
Pjnchard got into with the college authorities the preceding summer. 
Pinchard was suspended for some offense of which Chase believed him 
to be innocent. Chase protested to President Tyler ; and when his pro- 
test availed nothing, he quit college for the period of his friend's sus- 
pension. In speaking of this episode in a letter to Trowbridge, Chase 
remarked in after years : "I could not help feeling that I had done right 
in standing by my friend ; but I was sorry that I had been obliged to 
le;ve college." Punchard later became a minister in Boston. Warden, 
S.P. Chase, 115-116. 

"After graduating from Dartmouth in 1827 Charles Dexter Cleve- 
nd, here referred to, became professor of Latin and Greek in Dickinson 
allege and later in New York University. He wrote a number of crit- 
il works on modern and classical literature. 



126 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Satiety Publications. 

that you would not have accepted it if you had. I see no reason why 
you should wonder that they had no more gentlemen. They had all that 
they knew from the three lower classes that would go and they have a 
moral antipathy to our class you know because we come [■?] after Mr. 
Henry and other reasons too insignificant to mention. There has been 
a READING CIRCLE (Excuse my printing Tom I pray thee) estab- 
lished at Hanover — the Gentlemen Tommy Aiken & Carlton read and 
the ladies correct any mistakes they may happen to observe. Williamine 13 
belongs to it and has made marvellous improvement in consequence 
thereof: Insomuch that now I scarcely dare say Boo to her (Or as the 
old saying goes Say Boo to a goose) for fear that I shall be told that it 
is not good English! She has moreover acquired a number of smooth, 
elegant, pure, harmonious clear English sayings, par exemple "You lie" 
"Shoot your Granny" "Awful crittur" and I don't know how many 
others equipollent and tantamount to that. You see hereby what rapid 
strides Hanover is taking in the march of improvement. Par example 
puts me in mind of Monsieur. I remembered you to him, tho' without 
your orders for I suppose that you would have told me to had you 
thought of it. He has left Hanover this morning for Woodstock, when 
he proposes instructing a school this winter. He told me to remembc 
him affectionately to you. 

I am glad that your cousin remembers me. I thought I should like 
him very much upon acquaintance — as it was I feel a great respect for 
him. Present my respects to him if you please. I hardly think it will 
be possible for me to be in Portsmouth this winter; if it is possible how- 
ever I will. Dan brought me your letter and wished to read it. I tolcjl 
him I had no objections. He read it & said that he was very glad yo« 
had altered your opinion of him. He did not comprehend the import 
of the particle Sed [!?] I guess. Cilley tells me that he shall see 
you in the course of a fortnight or three weeks & sends a packet of 
Love to you. Goodbye. 

Your Sincere Friend 

P. S. You must answer this so that I may receive your letter 
within eight or ten days for after that time I scarcely know where I 
shall be for two or three weeks. I have written this just as I should 
talk. Excuse all faults. 

Reading Vt. Feby. 6. 1826. 
Dear Tom: 

I regret very much that you have not thought fit to answer my last 

letter. I expected that you would direct to Hanover and that it world 

be forwarded to me in case I should not be there. But I suppose tl/»t 

you have good reasons for it as I am not willing to suspect the "s\ 



13 Daughter of General Poole, already referred to by Chase. 



Salmon P. Chase. 127 

cerity" of your friendship. Since my last to you many important events 
have taken place, such as old Bison's falling in love for the 99th time. 
The present object of his admiration is a Miss Trumbull from Hart- 
ford, Conn. But as he is a sworn squire of dames I suppose that his 
present will last no longer than his former flames. Many other equally 
important events have transpired too tedious to mention. Harriet Wood- 
ward has been paying attentions to a medical student but has been re- 
jected! At least so says General Report who you know is not a man 

of unquestioned veracity. I was up at H M a few days since. Saw 

Mrs. Poole and Williamine — all well. W had been to a ball at 

Windsor and at one in Woodstock so she had plenty to talk of during 
the short time I was there. Her tongue went as smooth as butter and 
as swift as Eclipse. I did not see any of your particular acquaintances 
while there. Since the vacation commenced I have been at Keene 
where I staid between three or four weeks. Charles Olcott is there — 
rather more steady than he has been tho' it can scarce be hoped that 
he will ever entirely free himself from his unhappy habit of intemper- 
ance. I am very sorry for him for setting aside that blot upon his 
character. There are few who are more highly gifted with every quality 
that excites esteem and insures respect. I came to this place about two. 
weeks since. I have a sister here who is married to the physician of 
the place. 15 My Mother intends residing here for the future ; as she 
has no children who are not either at school at a distance or married or 
otherwise engaged. It is a gloomy and unsocial place and were it not 
that my sister is here I should hardly think my Mother could endure the 
change ; but she is satisfied and of course I am. I shall be as much at 
liberty as formerly and the change cannot materially affect me, as I am 
scarcely ever at home for a month together. How prospers your school ! 
I hope you meet with no difficulty in the management of the blacks 
which are entrusted to you to shape out after a workmanlike manner. 
Avery as I understand has bidden farewell to his school in Sharon. 
Your friend Elliott is now engaged in his third. Russell does very well 
however. Hutchins I understand teaches the young idea how to shoot 
with great accuracy. I saw Torry in Windsor a few days since. He 
succeeded well I beleive in his school and is now enjoying himself at 
home. I think you made a great mistake when you took so long a school. 
You must be fairly tired out long before this. I can well sympathise 
with you for it was only 12 months since I was engaged in the same 
horrid delightful employment. I counted the hours, minutes and even 
seconds with the utmost impatience and greatly did I rejoice when the 
h©ur came when I could say to myself "I am free." You however are 
differently situated from what I was. You have pleasant society to con- 
sole you for the vexations you experience in your school ; but to me my 



M Hanover. 

"Jane Chase, the wife of Dr. Skinner. 



128 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

pleasantest hours were often those which I spent in schoolroom ; the peo- 
ple among whom I was cast were almost savages, — one or two families 
alone could pretend to common decency. I was not starved however — 
the best bohea the greasiest nutcake and largest piece of pie which 
would rival in the compactness of formation and darkness of hue the 
darkest ebony was always reserved for the "master". However I made 
shift to live it thro' and tho't at the close of the period for which I was 
engaged that I would sooner undertake to teach the wild Indians, than 
again attempt to instruct savages of our enlightened land. 

I have trespassed thus long upon your patience with an account of 
my school merely because I had nothing else to say which I thought 
might be interesting to you. Do you ever hear from Punchard? I have 
not heard a syllable from him scarcely since the vacation commenced. 

Shall you return to H at the commencement of the term? If 

you do not I wish you would send me an immediate answer to this. Be 
sure to come as quick as you finish your school for our room is all too 
large to be filled by one person. 

Very affectionately 
Your Friend 
Dear Tom, 

I wrote this letter in Reading Vermont state and intended to have 
sent it to you before this time but as this is an out-of-the-way place 
where the mail seldom comes, I have not sent it till this present time." 
George Punchard is here — you cannot think how glad we all were to 
see him. He has grown fat and is hearty as a buck. Torrey & Creep- 
ing Moses & Cleveland are all here. I am sorry to find that Cleveland 
is charged with such heavy accusations as he is said to be for I had 

begun to like him quite well. C Moses rooms in Brown Hall. 

[Three words illegible.] Do Come as soon as you Can. Don't stay to 
finish your school if it will keep you long. At all events write imme- 
diately. Remember me to your cousin. Goodbye and believe me ever 

Ceteris equalibus 

Your's Affectionately 

, r _ „, Hanover, March 12th 1826. 

My Dear Tom, 

I have taken the liberty of writing to you at this time in order to 
request you to purchase me a handsome English watch in Concord the 
price of which I do not wish to exceed 16 dolls. I want to have as 
small a one as possible, at least as small as yours and warranted for one 
year. You may get it as much cheaper than 16 dollars as you can ! 

A revival is commenced here and probably will make sweeping 
work. The President goes round and exhorts every one who has ex- 
pressed any concern. 



Postmarked at Hanover, February 20. 



Salmon P. Chase. 129 

Prof. Shurtliff as you have probably seen by the papers has lost his 
wife. 17 George Punchard has just left my room. He is very well and 
so is old Tom and Gates. Hutchins lately reed, a letter from you. 
I thought it somewhat queer that you did not write to me at the same 
time. — What's to pay. Excuse blots and handwriting on account of 
my pen. 

Your's affectionately 

P. S. I do not write at any great length as you will come on so 
soon. Pay for the watch and I will hand you the money upon your 
arrival. If there are no English ones of the kind I wish you to get for 
me a small French one to open on the back and front, worked on the 
outside, warranted one year, price not exceed 12 dollars. I care very 
little which of this you get me and should if any thing prefer the last 



Hanover March 16 1826 
My Dear Tom. 

I reed, with much pleasure your very kind letter of the 27th ult. 
rot however 'till the 11th of this month. Before recieving it I had 
written a short letter to you directed to Concord, which you probably 
will not receive 'till on your way here if then. It is of no manner of 
Consequence whether you do or no as there is no information in that 
which will not be contained in this. , 

I have sold my old watch and wish to procure a new one. If you 
should be able to obtain me an English one in Portsmouth of the same 
sise, or smaller than yours, warranted for time one year or a French 
one, worked on the outside, to open both on the front and back, small 
in sise, & warranted for time one year, I should be glad if you would 
procure it for me and I will pay you immediately upon your return. 
I should not wish the English watch to cost over 16 dolls, and the 
French one not over 12 dolls, and you may get either as much cheaper 
as possible! I have a small bill at Brown, 18 which if you would pay I 
would settle with you. The amount of the bill is $5.68. You remember 
you took off my Burns to have it bound. If it is already bound and has 
cost more than 2.00 for the binding I should wish you to procure an- 
other set if possible at about 3.50 well bound ; if not I should wish you 
to have them bound as well as you can for .50 cents a volume. Pardon 
me for troubling you so much about my matters. — We will now if you 
please say something about yours. Are you indispensably engaged in 
your school for 3 weeks longer? If not and you have any wish to be 
restored to Coll. upon easy terms I would advise you to return imme- 



"Roswell Shurtleff was the professor of theology at this time. For 
a sketch of his life, see B. P. Smith, The History of Dartmouth College 
(Boston, 1878), 228-240. 

"A tailor. 

Vol. XXVIII— 9. 



130 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

diately in the very next mail and be present at the examination of your 
class. If you do this I think you will be readmitted upon easy terms, 
if not you will be obliged to undergo a private examination, which is a 
thing somewhat to be dreaded if as you say, you have not attended much 
to your classical studies. Besides I have a more selfish motive; I want 
you as a Room-Mate, to help me fetch wood, draw water, &c, &c. Do 
Come, and that not quickly merely but immediately. Your examination 
will be upon Thursday next week and it will be your interest to be 
present at it. Come therefore without hesitation directly. 

A revival has commenced here. I was not taught to believe much 
in the efficacy of such things but I do not not [sic] know enough con- 
cerning their effects to oppose them. 19 I so wish to comply with the ad- 
vice of Gameliel to the Jewish Sanhedrim, "Refrain from these men 
&c." 20 Charles Thompson has experienced as he says a change of heart — 
that is — he has become religious. Ned Avery is said to be under serious 
impressions and so is Gates Cilley, and some others of your acquaint- 
ance. Every one appears sober. Compared to last fall the College 
seems very sober this Spring I assure you. In the chapel this evening 
you might have heard a pin drop so attentive and silent were the 
students. The revival commenced among the young ladies, all of whom 
without exception have become seriously disposed. The president is 
indefatigable in his labours to promote it's spread and he is seconded 
tho' with less ardour by the other officers of college. 

George is well and studies quite hard this term. In fact I never 
knew a time when he appeared to so good advantage in the class as he 
does at present. Old Tom is hearty as usual; — he and I have had a 
slight falling-out tho' I hope no lasting ill-will will arise from it; for 
if there be one whose talents I admire, or whose honour I respect, or 
whose good opinion I should wish to secure in the Junior Class, that 
one is George Paine. I would not crouch however to purchase even his 
good opinion. 

Your Society are about I believe to make some alterations in the 
library; — what they are I have not been able exactly to learn. Dane 
Smith of the freshman class has been considerably with me this term, 
and I think him a very fine fellow, tho' take the class as a body and I 
doubt whether it would be possible, to find a poorer set of intellects in 
any college in America. 



Chase had been baptized and confirmed a member of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church. A deeply religious note dominated his entire life, 
being the result in part, no doubt, of the teachings of his devoted mother 
and of the reading which he did under Bishop Chase's supervision an 
Worthington. His college mate Nathaniel Folsom believed that the re- 
vival left an ineradicable impress on Chase's later career. See ibid., 
134-139. 

"Acts, v, 38. 



Salmon P. Chase. 181 

Come immediately or answer this in less than no time. 

Good-bye. Your's Affectionately. 
N. B. "I do not doubt the sincerity of your friendship." 

Royalton April 9 1826. 

Tuesday. 
My Dear Tom, 

When I left H in my hurry I forgot to bring with me my 

pencil case, my penknife, and the little account book all which you will 
find in the drawer of my table and which I should be glad to have you 
send by the afternoon stage of tomorrow, as likewise a packet of tracts 
which I expect Caleb Kimball will give you. Will you do me the favour 
to hand the inclosed immediately to him? [Written in later.] I do not 
inclose any thing as you will percieve for him. 

I arrived here after a pleasant tho slow ride safe and sound, wind 
& limb and had the satisfaction of finding all my friends well. I inclose 
to you the amount of my debt 5 dollars. 

Do not my dear Tom forget the promise which you made me at 
parting and remember the day is fast approaching when you will be 
called to account for the faithful fulfilment of it. Do not think me 
officiously impertinent in thus reminding you of an acknowledged duty 
but attribute it to the real cause anxiety for your welfare. May he who 
alone is able give you strength to fulfil your resolution. 

Good-bye do not neglect writing soon to 

Your Sincerely Aff. Friend 

P. S. Love to George, Tom, Gates & Hutch. Send likewise my 
razor and strop — April 12. I inclose your money $5 — Stage- fee in 
deduction 4.00. 

_ „ Royalton May 15th 1826. 

My Dear Tom, 

I recieved your epistle a few moments since & answer it imme- 
diately. I was glad and sorry upon your letter. Glad that the work 
which I verily believe to be that of the Spirit of God continues to pro- 
ceed in Hanover. Sorry that your manner of mentioning it seemed to 
imply doubt if not incredulity. No doubt you may serve the Lord in your 
studies as acceptably as in other ways if you study from right motives, 
but if you do not you must be conscious of something wrong. "Without 
Holiness no man shall see the Lord," and the question is therefore a 
very important one. Are we in any degree holy? Has the Holy Spirit 
renewed our corrupt hearts? I pray (and I hope I pray sincerely) 
that you may be enabled to give an affirmative answer to these questions. 
"Seek you first the Kingdom of Heaven and all other things shall be 



132 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

added unto you." These are the words of God Himself who cannot be 
deceived and who will not be mocked. I leave you to make their appli- 
cation. 

I thank you sincerely for the trouble you have taken in sending 
my things. Whence came the tracts and why did you not send my pen- 
knife? Glad that the money went safe. Answer this if you please this 
week. Love to all. 

Your aff Friend. 



II. 

After graduation at Dartmouth, where, it is worthy of note, 
Chase was honored by election to the Phi Beta Kappa Society, 
he planned to go south and teach for a time preparatory to the 
selection of a profession. He strongly inclined at this time to 
enter the ministry. At Philadelphia, on his journey southward, 
he came upon his uncle Bishop Chase, whose mission to Eng- 
land had proved successful and who was devoting his energies 
now to the building up of the Theological Seminary of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church, later called Kenyon College. 
Young Chase sought openings for his school at Swedesboro, N. 
J., and at Frederick City, Md., but the conditions were not 
favorable for his venture. 

He now journeyed on to Washington, where he had letters 
to the Reverend Dr. Hawley and the Reverend Mr. Allen and 
where his uncle Dudley Chase, United States Senator from 
Vermont, spent a portion of each year on his official duties. 
These gentlemen were not able to assist him materially at the 
outset except through the prestige afforded by the use of their 
names. With considerable diffidence Chase announced his 
project to the public in the following advertisement in The 
National Intelligencer, December 23, 1826: 

SELECT CLASSICAL SCHOOL 

The subscriber intends opening a Select Gassical School, in the 
Western part of the City, to commence on the second Monday in Jan- 
uary. His number of pupils will be limited to twenty, which will enable 
him to devote a much larger portion of his time and attention than 
ordinary to each individual student. Instruction will be given in all 
the studies preparatory to entering College, or, if desired, in any of 



Salmon P. Chase. 149 

I am glad I succeeded in describing the Wirt family so as to excite 
your admiration. They well deserve it and perhaps at some future time 
I may endeavor to increase it. — Not a word against her whom you 
characterize as my quondam Dulcinea. I have no such attachment but 
I tell you in frankness that did I permit myself to think of these things 
I know no one to whom I would sooner offer heart and hand. But 
I hold it the merest folly in a young man, not possessed of an inde- 
pendent fortune, who is pursuing the study of law or Medicine to clog 
his free steps by incumbrances like these. By the way what has become 
of Miss Hall, your quondam Dulcinea the fame of which attachment 
reached even the Federal City and excited the attention of a magistrate 
therof. — My opinion of a certain one of whom I was so chivalrous a 
defender a year since is slightly changed and may change farther. Would 
that all interested now knew all the circumstances. Do any of your 
class come southward this fall. I should be glad to see any body from 
Old Dart. Remember me to your excellent Father and the family and 
believe me now as ever 

Your Faithfully attached friend 

Write soon & I will forgive the last — 



_, ^ „, Washington Nov. 10. 1828. 

My Dear Tom, 

Your kind letter of the 27th ult was received, as all your letters are 
with great pleasure and read even with more than usual interest. I am 
glad to hear you have formed so high an opinion of my cousin. I have 
ever heard her spoken of in terms of admiration by those who have 
had the good fortune to know her. I have never seen her but once 
and then, so brief was my visit that I do not now remember enough 
of her form or feature to be able to recognize her should we meet 
again. She has never visited her paternal relations and appears to 
have imbibed a prejudice against them, whether justly or not it is not 
for me to say. This prejudice, I presume, is in no degree removed as 
I gather from your letter that she did not visit them while on her 



upon his great knowledge, which has as fatal an effect upon men's repu- 
tation as poverty ; for as it was said, the poor man saved the city, and 
the poor man's labour was forgot; so here we see, the modest man built 
the city, and the modest man's skill was unknown. Thus we see every 
man is the maker of his own fortune ; and what is very odd to consider, 
he must in some measure be the trumpet of his fame : not that men are 
to be tolerated who directly praise themselves, but they are to be en- 
dued with a sort of defensive eloquence, by which they shall be always 
capable of expressing the rules and arts by which they govern them- 
selves." "Nestor" is, of course, another name for the famous Sir 
Christopher Wren, builder of St. Paul's Cathedral and many other 
edifices. I am indebted to Professor Milton Percival of the Ohio State 
University for this reference. 



150 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

visit to the country last summer. I imagine her prejudice arises from 
suspicion that they would be influenced in their attentions to her by 
regard to her property; but I verily think she is mistaken in regard 
to most of them. As- a family I do not think we have or deserve to 
have the reputation of loving money or the possession of money over- 
much. Individuals among us, I doubt not, are open to this charge but 
it should be general. Now under the circumstances perhaps you will 
say I was foolish in making two attempts at distant intervals to remove 
or allay this feeling. I wrote to her once by mail while I was in College 
before I graduated. The letter was either not received or was not 
answered. Again I wrote last Spring by my Uncle 42 , who represents 
Vermont in the Senate. This letter too was not received or deemed 
unworthy of an answer. The remark which she made to you induces 
me to think it possible she did not receive them. I wish I could be in- 
formed as to this point as it would materially influence the estimate 
I should form of her character. Of course under existing circum- 
stances you would not wish me to follow your advice. I will say how- 
ever that were the case otherwise I should pursue the course you point 
out; for, aside from the hope of beingf able to do away the prejudice 
I have mentioned, it would give me great pleasure to correspond with 
a young lady such as I have ever heard that my cousin is. 

You enquire if Emeline Webster is married. She is. I was present 
at the ceremony and spent a most disagreeable evening. Not that her 
presence rendered it disagreeable but the party was very large and I 
abhor these promiscuous gatherings. I think her husband is every way 
superior to Olcott and I hope that the connexion will be a happy one. 

I am glad to hear that you have commenced your professional 
studies and I should think that Boston would afford ample means and 
opportunities for improvement. If I may be allowed to exercize again 
the privilege I have so often assumed I would say to you, place your 
mark high. Aim at the accomplishment of great things and do not 
permit the allurements of pleasure or the fascinations of society, or the 
difficulties of study, to divert or deter you from a course steadily and 
rapidly onward. Individuals of the profession you have chosen have been 
eminent in all science and familiar with all literature. Many of them 
have been benefactors of mankind — men of enlarged liberal views 
whose souls have been too lofty to regard minute selfish interest in their 
generous ardor to ameliorate the condition of man. You, my dear 
friend, do not intend to live for yourself alone — you would desire that 
your name if known at all might be known as the name of one who 
in passing thro' life communicated, like a fertilizing stream, beauty and 
strength to all around. Take then as your examples the eminent of 
your profession and resolve to surpass them. It may be done. In- 



a Dudley Chase, United States Senator from Vermont, 1813-1817 
and 1825-1831. 



Salmon P. Chase. 151 

dustry and a judicious application of time effects wonders. No man 
was ever great — truly great — without them, and with them any one 
not unfitted by providence, may excel. I have perhaps singular views of 
life. Certain it is that I regard this world not as a place of leisure — 
not as a place of selfish exertion, but as a vast theatre upon which 
each man has a part allotted to him to perform and duties to discharge 
which connect him closely with his fellowman. I confess I desire to 
be distinguished but I desire more to be useful and were the choice 
of exalted honour and undying fame or extensive tho humble useful- 
ness offered to me I do not think I should hesitate a moment in my 
choice of the latter. And I do not regard myself as at liberty to make 
any disposition of my time that may suit my inclination but I esteem 
it as a sacred trust committed to me by my God every moment of which 
ought to be devoted to a diligent preparation to discharge any duties 
which He may call me to perform. Feeling thus myself you will excuse 
me if my interest in the welfare of a dear friend should prompt me 
to be too liberal of my counsel or too urgent in my exhortations. 

You have ere this learned the result of the Presidential contest. 
The People have made choice of King Dragon and we must be content 
to abide the consequences. If I do not mistake the signs of the times 
you and I will live to see this Union dissolved & I do not know that 
New England has much reason to deprecate such an event. The proceed- 
ings at the South during the last summer, the measures adopted as 
preparatory, by the South Carolina delegation in Congress, last winter, 
and the recent election of an ignoramus, a rash, violent military chief 
to the highest civil office are fearful omens of approaching convulsions. 
It is my hope that Genl. Jackson will disappoint the fears of his 
opponents but I hope with much apprehension. Time however will shew 
and till then I trust the People of the North will hope for the best 
and prepare for the worst. 

My life moves on in one unvaried course which will not probably 
be materially altered till I commence the practice of my profession. 
It is probable that Mr. Wirt will remove to New York next summer. 
In that event I shall, if I can so arrange matters, accompany him and 
continue my studies under his direction and finally settle in some part 
of that state if not in the city. If any of my acquaintances are in Bos- 
ton remember me to them and do not forget to evince your sense of 
my punctuality by imitation. 

Your sincere & Affectionate friend 

Did E. see my letter to you? 



152 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

Washington April 20. 1829 43 
My dear Sparhawk, 

* You say well that the dear people, are happy in having such faith- 
ful sentries upon the watchtowers of liberty. Thrice happy say I, "ter- 
que quatuorque beata" is Freedom in the possession of so chivalrous and 
undaunted an advocate as Isaac Hill whilom editor of the New Hamp- 
shire patriot and now reposing himself after the hard fought battle in 
the chair of the second Comptroller under the glorious administration 
of the greatest, wisest virtuousest of men, bravest of heroes and most 
profound of Presidents, Gen. Andrew Jackson, the Defender of New- 
Orleans, the farmer of Tennessee! This is a bright era in the History 
of America. The golden age of disinterested patriotism has returned. 
Resuscitated Independence will date from this auspicious epoch her new 
birth. Hurra for Jackson! Let the air be rent with the deafning ac- 
claim. Jackson & Reform Let the echoes repeat it till the sound die 
away among the murmurs of the mighty Pacific. Wake from the dead 
Shade of the gigantic Johnson! Behold a wonder under the sun and 
confess your ignorance of the signification of terms. Patriotism means 
selflove, violence means energy, cruelty magnanimity, and reform the 
removal of an honourable opponent and the substitution of a servile tool. 

This administration was appropriately denominated some weeks since 
as "the millenium of minnows." It is so truly. From all quarters have 
applicants for office been flocking, of all kinds and conditions. 'Not long 
since I am told a man went to the Treasury Department and enquired 
"Where's the mon that makes the clerks?" He wanted an office. I 
know not if he was successful in his application. — But the auspicious star 
of the little shines not merely upon the Jackson party. Johnson Eaton, 
the brother of the younger Mrs. Adams is to be married next 
week to his sister's serving maid. This, as you may suppose, has not 
only given the gossips a subject but has occasioned a great deal of dis- 
tress and discord in the family of Mr. Adams. "Ainsi va la monde." 
The society here is not sufficiently enlightened with the new doctrine to 
be willing to receive Mrs. Eaton into it's bosom. So they say Mr. Eaton 
must have a foreign embassy and exhibit his lovely wife, his better half 
as the representative of American ladies at an European court. It will 
be well if she does not come to fisticuffs with her Grace the Duchess 
or my lady, the Marchioness. 

I thank you for the friendly interest you take in my future destinies 
and assure you that nothing but the impossibility of the thing prevents 
me from pursuing the course which you point out to me. You ask why 
I do not at once go to Baltimore. I answer because there is a rule of 
court which would prevent me from commencing practise until after 
the lapse of three years and I do not wish to wait so long. It is my 
intention now to go immediately upon the completion of my engage- 



48 Postmarked April 18. 



Salmon P. Chase. 153 

ment here either to the western part of the state of New York or to 
Ohio or to Frederick in Md. The last of these schemes is the least 
likely to be adopted of the three. But my intention may be materially 
changed upon subsequent information. My plan of life, so far as I 
have formed any is this. To pursue the practice of my profession un- 
deviatingly until I have accumulated a little — enough to render me in- 
dependent of the world and then to run a political career. I think in 
this way I may be more extensively useful than in any other and there- 
fore I wish to pursue this course. y I will not tell you all my day-dreams 
of good effected through my instrumentality lest you should doubt the 
sanity of your friend. There is one subject however which engages 
(and naturally enough) many of my thoughts and that is the simplifica- 
tion and improvement of the law. I would wish to contribute my poor 
efforts to the accomplishment of this great work. I would desire to see 
all the dark and circuitous by paths which conduct to the sanctuary of 
justice converted into a broad and beaten highway. I would be glad to 
see the sun of Jurisprudence shining with unclouded effulgence upon all, 
the rich & the poor, the learned and the ignorant; not hidden by 
clouds or obscured by a disastrous eclipse as it now is, serving but to 
render the darkness in which we are involved, felt, I am sure that 
much may be done by zealous devotion to effect this object. And could 
I render such a service to my country I would not give the conscious- 
ness of having done so, for all the crowns which ever encircled a 
monarch's brow or for all the plaudits which were ever lavished upon a 
successful warrior. I know I am enthusiastic, but this enthusiasm, this 
far-reaching anticipation is the source of happiness to me, and I would 
not exchange it for the contented tranquillity of a more phlegmatic 
disposition. '-^ 

With regard to the Misses Wirt you are again mistaken. It was 
the engaged one who used to me the expressions I repeated to you and 
so your castle in the air must fall. They are all gone now ; the two 
young ladies to Richmond and the rest of the family to Baltimore. I 
would (7 speak frankly) I could cherish the anticipations to which you 
obviously allude. But it cannot be, says the stern voice of cold Reason, 
it cannot be. If I were a little more advanced in the world — even one 
short year it might be. But ignorant as I am of my future destinies, un- 
certain even as to the place where my lot may be cast, I feel it would 
be unjust to her to attempt to win her affections. And yet so strangely 
inconsistent is man with himself. I always forget all this when in her 
presence and half of my thoughts are employed upon this very subject 
& tho' Conviction continually extinguishes the taper of Hope, yet is it 
constantly relumed in my bosom. Now I have unfolded to you the pre- 
cise nature of my feelings and have reposed in you a confidence which 
I know will be fully deserved. 

I should be glad to hear of the fate of my letters to my cousin in 
your next, which I hope soon to receive. Remember me very respectfully 



154 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

to your father and sister if she has not forgotten me and believe [me] 
ever 

Your sincere & affectionate 

Write me in extenso of your own affairs and plans in your next 
& thus countenance my egotism. 

City of Washington, Sept. 30, 182& 

MY TORY DEAR FRIEND, 

It was my intention to have written you as soon as I had returned 44 
but I found so many things to do that in the whirl of occupations the 
little moments and the greater hours have slipped almost imperceptibly 
away and the thing has not been done. You however who so often need 
forgiveness (pardon the reminiscence) will not be very immitigable in 
your resentment. I returned here without accident and with renovated 
health. The journey was performed somewhat more rapidly than I an- 
ticipated when with you I went to Salem the same day I left Concord 
with George Punchard whom I found or rather who found me at An- 
dover. You know I went down with Ward. When I arrived I felt 
thoroughly fatigued and threw myself on Ward's bed to rest myself. 
While there Punchard happened to be passing by and seeing Ward's 
window opened he concluded that he had returned and stepped in to 
enquire the news from Hanover. He found me there quite unexpectedly 
and told me he was going to Salem. I immediately agreed to go with 
him and off we went. The next day I went to see my sister at Ipswich 
and returned, bid goodbye to our noble friend and his admirable family 
and went to Boston. Here I unluckily missed seeing Smith in conse- 
quence of an oversight on my part. I saw none of our acquaintances in 
Boston as it was too late when I arrived to seek them out that evening 
and the next day was Sunday. On Monday morning I was off — passed 
thro N. Y. the next day without stopping an instant — slept at Philadel- 
phia and the next evg. at 8 o'clock was comfortably seated at Balti- 
more in the midst of my friends the Wirts. I remained in Baltimore till 
Saturday when I came here as a dog that is dragged back to a chain 
from which he has been temporarily freed. I always feel when I have 
been absent from the city a little while and pass by the Capitol on my 
return, a sort of involuntary sinking of the heart for which I cannot 
account unless it be that I detest the drudgery and thanklessness of 
school-keeping. Well it is a source of some consolation that I shall 
soon be released from it. I can see thro' as they say in the Western 
forests and I will strive to divert my mind from the gloom around me, 
from the rugged surface and tangled ways of the wood to yonder clear 
blue sky which I can just discern thro the interstices of the interlaced 



" Chase had left Washington on July 31 for a visit with his mother 
and sister in New England. Incidentally he had spent a few days with 
Sparhawk in Concord, N. H. 



Salmon P. Chase. 155 

toughs. And I am not sorry that I have been a pedagogue.' It is good 
to have borne the yoke in one's youth. It is well to have made trial of 
this world. It is a test — a criterion of strength — energy — power. 
When I returned I found that the Secretary of War was likely to be 
involved in a disagreeable difficulty on account of his wife. A curious 
version of this affair has found it's way into the newspapers and has 
been published I perceive in the N. H. Journal in which statement there 
are not two grains of truth. It was written either by a dunce or a 
knave — either by some busy meddler who could not ascertain the true 
state of the case or by some designing fellow who wished for particular 
reason to impose a false statement on the public. I am inclined to 
think that the last supposition is nearest the truth. The true state or 
nearly a true state of the case is this. Sometime last March Mr. [J. M.] 
Campbell a clergyman of this city in a confidential conversation with 
Dr. [IE. S.] Ely of Phila. a staunch adherent of Genl. Jackson men- 
tioned some circumstances respecting the character of Mrs. Eaton when 
Mrs. Timberlake with a view that being repeated to Gen. J. by Dr. Ely 
they might prevent the appt. of Maj. Eaton as Secy, of War Dr Ely said 
nothing about them at the time. Maj. Eaton was appointed and here 
the matter rested for a time. Subsequently Dr. Ely finding that the 
character of the administration was suffering from the attempts made 
T)y the Genl. to obtrude this woman on Society wrote to him detailing to 
him these circumstances stating that he had reed, them from a clergyman 
but without mentioning his name. Genl. J. communicated the contents 
to the Secy, and Mrs. Eaton immediately departs for Phila. to demand 
the name of the audacious offender. It was given up and she returned. 
Mr. Campbell declared to Gen. J. the whole course he had taken and the 
motives by which he was influenced. He approved of them but subse- 
quently after conversing with E saw fit to recant his 'approval. 

Various attempts were then made to intimidate Mr. C. and induce a 

recantation but in vain. Genl. J in the true spirit of »the despotism 

which has marked his every exercise of power has withdrawn himself 
from Mr. C's church and Maj Eaton his worthy friend after having 
magnanimously threatened personal violence to a peaceful clergyman, 
says nothing about the matter at present. Mr. C. is absent from the city. 
I cannot tell what will be done when he returns. Such is an abridgment 
of the whole affair as I believe it stands. 45 My affectionate respects to 
your excellent father and mother. In a great hurry. 

Your very aff. friend 



45 Chase gives a more explicit account of this affair in his diary 
under date of September 5, 1829: "Mr. Campbell, a Presbyterian clergy- 
man in Washington, had stated in confidence to Dr. Ely, of Philadelphia, 
with a view to prevent the appointment of Maj. Eaton to the Cabinet, 
that Mrs. E. had been delivered of a child when she was Mrs. Timber- 
lake, supposed to be by Maj. E., and that various other reports, greatly 
prejudicial to the character of both, had been for some time in circula- 



166 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

Washington Jany. 15. 1830. 
My dear Sparhawk, 

What apology shall I make for my long silence. Shall I tell you 
how often I have determined to write immediately and how often some 
duty seemingly more imperative in it's claims would drag me from this 
more pleasant one? Shall I tell how much I have to do? Shall I plead 
the harrassing anxiety which constantly accompanies indecision as to 
future residence — especially when the hour is nigh at hand when that 
die, so pregnant with good or evil, must be thrown? Will any or all of 
these apologies avail? If so then, my dear friend, you will not impute 
my silence to a wrong cause and of course will not retaliate upon me. 

You mentioned in your last a dangerous illness of your excellent 
father. As I have since heard nothing from you I trust he is restored 



tion. Dr. Ely had made no use of the information then but some time 
afterward wrote to the President, informing him of the circumstances, 
and giving Mr. Campbell's name as the author of the report. The Presi- 
dent immediately sent for Mr. C, who confessed that he had made the 
statement to Dr. E., explained his motives, and showed his authority. 
The President was apparently contented. But, the next day, he had 
changed his mind, and called upon Mr. C. to deny his belief in the 
charge. Mr. C. replied that he could not — when the President became 
angry, and talked of a suit for slander. Mr. C. now thought it expedient 
to prepare for the worst, and with that view requested me to call with 
him at Mrs. Williams' to-day. I went and the old lady told us that she 
was a neighbor to Mrs. Timberlake, and that Mrs. O'Neale, the mother 
of Mrs. T., had told her that she had had twins in the absence of Mr. 
T. This was the amount of her statement, but from other sources Mr.. 
C. gathered a mass of evidence sufficient, and more than sufficient, to 
establish every allegation he had made, not as of his own knowledge, but 
as resting upon the credit of a particular individual and upon the strength 
of common report. A few days afterward" a conclave was held at the 
palace, for the extraordinary purpose of taking this affair into considera- 
tion. 

"Nearly the whole Cabinet was present, and some extra counselors 
summoned for the special occasion. These last were Dr. Ely and Mr. 
Auditor Lewis. Mr. C. was summoned to appear and answer for him- 
self. I can not state the particulars as they transpired. I have now no 
note of the transaction, and the minutiae have faded from my memory. 
However, the President became highly exasperated, and attributed the 
whole affair to the agency of Mr. Clay, and Mr. C. left the room indignant 
at the treatment he had received, and determined to publish the whole 
affair to the world. Dr. Ely followed him and entreated him to change 
his resolution. At last he consented. Many other incidents grew out of 
this. The ladies of Washington excluded Mrs. E. from their society, 
and so the matter still rests. Eaton has threatened personal violence 
to Mr. C., but will not probably execute his threat; and Mrs. E. called 
herself on Mr. C, and after alternate abuse and entreaty, screaming and 
fainting, finding the whole ineffectual, declared that his blood should be 
spilt for his audacity." Warden, S. P. Chase, 148. 

As this extract indicates, the evidence of Mrs. Eaton's guilt was 
by no means conclusive. Professor J. S. Bassett, the most recent 
biographer of Jackson, presents a well-balanced account of this affair in 
his chapter on "The Eaton Malaria." 



Salmon P. Chase. 157 

to his usual health. I can sympathize with you in the anxiety which you 
must have felt. I have so often and so keenly felt the want of paternal 
aid and guidance and from want we [are] often enabled to appreciate 
more truly than by possession, that I can do with more reality than 
most men. But long may you be spared the sad experience which has 
been mine. Long may your revered father enjoy the love and honour to 
which his many and lofty virtues so justly entitle him. 

> Things here are in very much the same situation as when I wrote 
last. The political parties have not yet separated. Tho it is probable 
enough that e'er the session has closed Mr. Van Buren and Mr. Cal- 
houn will be openly proclaimed by their respective adherents as candi- 
dates for the next Presidency. Of these two Mr. Van Buren is at present 
so far as can be judged by indications here is [sic] unquestionably the 
strongest. Mr. Calhoun, however is much the ablest man. Van Buren 
has never been conspicuous as the originator or constant advocate of 
any one great measure. The United States Bank which has saved the 
country from financial ruin, is the child of Mr. Calhoun. Mr. Van Buren 
has been a successful intriguer without ever manifesting any of those 
splendid mental endowments which constitute the great statesman. 48 Mr. 
Calhoun, of too lofty a spirit to stoop to the arts and chicane of po- 
litical tacticians, rests his high pretensions upon his unrivalled ability in 
affairs of state. And this is the true reason why he is comparatively 
weak. The day has past, I fear forever past in this country, when a 
man will be rated according to his intellectual strength, extensive ex- 
perience or moral excellence. But my fear is mingled with hope. Amid 
the gloomy clouds which overhang our future destiny I sometimes think 
I can discover, faint revealings of the bow of promise. It has for some 
time been my opinion that a mighty moral revolution is taking place 
throughout our land. If it be so, then is the day at hand when this 
nation shall be as no nation hath been. The time approaches when the 
intellect of man, no longer confined by superstition or despotic will, shall 
expand over the whole range of knowledge ; when improvement shall 
reach it's uttermost limit; and man, disenthralled from the bondage of 
error and the worse bondage of sin, shall be what his maker intended he 
should be the chief glory of all his works. Do not laugh at my en- 
thusiasm but think of the subject and see if you do not arrive at the same 
result. I have not time or space now for the development of my own 
views of the whole matter but they appear to me to be reasonable. But 
whither have I been led? To go back I will say that while Mr. Calhoun 
& Van Buren are the only actors on the stage at present Mr. Clay's 
friends are neither asleep or unwatchful. Nor are they weak. They do 
not outnumber the united friends of the gentlemen I have named — but 
divided they would be stronger than either party. .^/ 



48 Such are the mutations of politics that eighteen years later Chase 
supported Van Buren for president of the United States. 



158 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

Now as to myself I am here thinking of my situation and trying 
to decide upon my future residence. It is my present opinion that I 
shall go to Cincinnati but I am uncertain as farther information may 
change my determination. At all events I shall remain here four or five 
weeks longer. I have relinquished the school to Smith and have been 
admitted to the Bar. 47 Smith is I believe well pleased with his situation. 
Tho there are some dcsagcmens about it with which one cannot easily 
reconcile himself. Instructors here are not esteemed as they are at the 
North and no wonder for of all men assuming the duties of that relation 
I do not think a more miserable set could be selected than those who 
are located here. I do not associate with them and in fact tho I have 
been in the city for three years I am yet acquainted with but one teacher.. 
How then can a man expect to be pleased when his profession ranks 
him with a degraded caste f 

I shall be looking for a letter from you soon. Please remember 
me to all my friends in Boston. If you can find it convenient call soon 
at Mr. Lamb's, Winthrop Place, & see Mr. Elliott, a young gentleman 
who left this last Monday for Boston and who will remain there I sup- 
pose a few days. He is a fine fellow. 

Your very affectionate friend 

Cincinnati Ohio Tune 12. 1830. 
My dear Sparhawk. 

You will be somewhat surprised to receive a letter from your old 
friend dated in this ultra-montane world and really I am a little sur- 
prised to find myself here a practising attorney, but as yet without prac- 
tice except in the moot-court! I feel almost sorry that I ever left New 
England but upon the whole I do not know that I have found thus far 



47 He was admitted to the bar in December, 1829, under circum- 
stances which he describes as follows in a letter to Trowbridge : "Very 
seldom, I imagine, has any candidate for admission to the bar presented 
himself for examination with a slenderer stock of learning. I was ex- 
amined in open court. The venerable and excellent Justice Cranch put 
the questions. I answered as well as I was able — how well or how ill 
I cannot say — but certainly, I think, not very well. Finally, the Judge 
asked me how long I had studied. I replied that, including the time em- 
ploved in reading in college and the scraps devoted to legal reading be- 
fore I regularly commenced the study, and the time since, I thought three 
years might be made up. The Judge smiled and said, 'We think, Mr. 
Chase, that you must study another year and present yourself again for 
examination.' 'Please your honors,' said I deprecatingly, T have made 
all my arrangements to go to the Western country and practise law.' 
The kind Judge yielded to this appeal, and turning to the clerk said, 
'Swear in Mr. Chase.' Perhaps he would have been less facile if he had 
not known me personally and very well." Schuckers is authority for 
the statement that the law of Maryland made three years' study a 
prerequisite for admission to the bar of the state and holds that Judge 
Cranch's comments reflected in no way upon Chase's fitness for admission. 
Schuckers, S. P. Chase, 30. 



Salmon P. Chase. 159 

much reason to regret that course. I have studied my profession after 
•a sort: have been admitted to the Courts of the District and the Courts 
of Ohio : have made some acquaintance with the great men and have 
seen a little of the great world : — and now nearly four eventful years 
have elapsed since I took my sheep skin at Dartmouth (dear old Dart- 
mouth!) and sallied forth to seek my fortune aet. 18 as they say upon 
the tombstones. Well and how should I have spent the time had New 
England still detained me with [in] her loved borders? Verily I cannot 
tell : but I see no great reason to suppose that I should have been much 
better or wiser or richer than I am now. Qua cum ita sint it seems to 
me that I have not much cause to repine. But I wont pester you any 
more with my egoism until I have exhausted other topics. 

I was rejoiced to hear that the health of your excellent father was 
^o far restored. The exercise which his new situation will constantly 
induce him to take will I trust, complete his restoration. I thank you 
for your kind invitation and assure you that there are few in N. E. 
"whom I should more desire to see and were my purse as full of dollars 
as your heart is of kindness I should lose no time in setting out. But 
now is the spring of my fortune. As yet not even the tender shoots 
appear. If they do rise there may come a cruel frost to nip them in 
the bud. So you see it is a thing impossible to hope for that I should 
see New England for a year or two at least. 

Do you know the Dr. Howard who married my cousin Elizabeth? 
What sort of a gentleman is he? There is another brother of the 
Pill here from Boston who has accomplished a conquest of one of our 
loveliest ladies. His name is Hayward and he says he is acquainted 
with my cousin-in-law and speaks well of him. The lady is the youngest 
daughter of Judge [John] McLean who, some say, will be president of 
the U. S. one of these days. Only think of a Bostonian seeking a wife 
in the far West where when he was a child (some thirty years since) 
scarce a tree had been cut down so as to let in the light of the blessed 
sun upon the soil. So change all things of earth ! But isn't it an ex- 
cellent thing to be a stranger? One would think the world has grown 
■wondrous charitable did we see nothing but the consequence which one 
enjoys in a strange place. My left hand to a Queen Anne's shilling Dr. 
H could not have obtained so pretty a girl in Boston and so highly gifted 
with other advantages, as Miss McLean. 

I would tell something about Cincinnati but I scarcely know where 
to begin. The city has sprung up at once as it were from the bosom of 
mother earth, like Minerva proceeding armed at all points from the 
skull of Jupiter which I take to have been about the most monstrous 
conception ever begotten in the brain. Thirtyfive years ago and where 
Cincinnati now stands was one immense forest in the midst of wh. 
rose one or two mounds, mechancoly fsic] types of past ages. A few 
trees had been cut down on the margin of the river and a few huts had 
been constructed of their trunks. Fort Washington was built after- 



160 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. 

wards and the striped and starred banner floated proudly over the spot 
where the Turkish crescent now glitters. A bazaar has been erected 
there in the fantastic style of eastern Architecture. And every thing 
had changed. The Ohio formerly rolled her waters along the base of 
abrupt overhanging banks but now the bank has been made to slope 
gently down to the waters edge from a great distance and is paved like 
the streets of Boston. There is a solid bed of stone extending a con- 
siderable distance up and down the river. Then [MS. torn] trees hung 
their branches over the flood. Now extensive warehouses and hotels 
lift their imposing fronts. Then a solitary canoe was now and then to be 
seen guided by the Indian huntsman moving over the water, loaded 
with the spoils of the chace. Now fleets of steam-vessels shoot swiftly 
along, annihilating distance and bearing in their ample bosoms the pro- 
ductions of the whole world. Is it not wonderful — passing wonderful, 
the difference between then and now? 48 

Goodbye, my dear Tom, remember me affectionately to every mem- 
ber of your family — do not neglect writing so long again and believe [me] 
with sincerest affection 

Your friend 

P. S. Do you know what has become of Geo. Punchard? 



^Writing in the Cincinnati America some time afterward Chase 
gave in greater detail his first impressions of Cincinnati. A portion of 
this description is worthy of reproduction in connection with the above 
account: "Thirty-five years ago our city was, as he [Daniel Webster] 
said it was, a little opening in the midst of a vast, unbroken forest. And 
what is it now? Let us look around us. Let us walk around Cincinnati 
and take note of what we see. First, there is the great landing, sloping 
down from Front street to the water's edge, a declivity of between sixty 
and seventy feet in perpendicular elevation, and reaching along the river 
more than two whole squares. The noble stream is up now, and a part 
of this immense work is hidden from view. Yet enough is visible to 
show that it would be a difficult matter to find a structure like it any- 
where. If the rise of water hides the landing it shows the steamboats 
for the use of which the landing was made. There they are, of a stately 
structure, fitting the river on whose bosom they rush along, and the 
mighty territory whose productions they carry to a distant market. As 
if Providence had designed this spot for their use, the river, generally 
careering on with a rapid current, here sweeps round an eddy, and thus 
forms a natural harbor, as it were, for them. They are discharging and 
receiving their cargoes. To-morrow almost every one of them will be 
gone, and their places will be filled with others. 

"As we proceed eastward, coming up into the city a little, our ears 
are greeted with the sound of busy occupation, and our eyes with the 
sight of the numerous factories. There are the steam mill, and the cot- 
ton factories, and the saw mill factories, and the engine factories, and 
others that we have not room to enumerate. Here is the principal source 
of the wealth and prosperity of our city. It is labor that gives value to 
every thing. The raw material is worthless till it is wrought. What 
purpose serves the iron in the earth? What good does the cotton ere it 
be gathered? Labor must be applied before value can be created. . . . 



Salmon P. Chase. 161 

"We pass on eastward until we come to the water works, and then 
climb up the hill that lies just down upon the river, until we attain a 
commanding position for a panoramic view of the valley. The first 
thought that strikes us is, that this spot must have been marked out for 
a high destiny in the councils of heaven. That wide amphitheater be- 
low must surely have been scooped out on purpose to be the seat of a 
great city. On all sides it is guarded by the everlasting hills, which 
seem, from this point, to be arrayed around the whole valley, in the 
form of an ellipsis. We see La Belle Riviere entering it from the north- 
east. It sweeps round in a beautiful curve, and we see it again far off and 
seeming like a zone of silver, binding nature's verdant apparelling, glid- 
ing away tranquilly toward the mighty Mississippi. From the north 
and the south several small streams are seen pouring in their scanty 
tribute. The canal comes in from the north, and is covered with boats. 
We close our eyes for a moment and listen. We hear, from the river, 
the roaring of the stream; from the canal, the notes of the bugle; and 
from the entire city, that confused noise of the rattling of wheels and 
the jar of machines, and the clamor of voices, which always indicate 
the- presence of a multitudinous population. We open our eyes again and 
we almost imagine that we see the city grow. We do see all the symptoms 
of vigorous growth. There are factories, more than we saw when in 
the valley, and in every part of the city. There are many churches, some 
of them grand in their proportions, and splendid in their architecture. 
There are the residences of scfme of our private citizens that show like 
palaces. There are extending streets and multiplying erections of every 
description, on the two levels that, with the connecting declivity between 
them, form the area of this vast amphitreater. There are the markets, 
not quite so neat fabrics as they might be, but filled to the overflowing 
with the abundance of the surrounding country, and crowded by the 
great multitude who live to eat, or eat to live. There, too, is NOT — 
alas! that we must say so — a CITY HALL worthy of the greatness and 
opulence of our city. 

"Having now cast a general and rapid glance over the scene be- 
fore us, we descend the hill, and we meet with men not yet past the 
prime of life, who tell us that when they were boys they used to gather 
grapes and hunt squirrels and wild turkeys over the very spot where 
these thick-crowding edifices now stand." — Warden, S. P. Chase, 185-187. 




Vol. XXVIII— 11. 



